Hobby

Growing up, I had lots of hobbies. First hobby was probably playing Barbies. That grew into playing house. This was especially fun once I had a baby. A real baby brother, that is. Every now and again I would play micro-machines with my older brother. Mom and dad gave me my very own craft room downstairs. The best. I would spend hours down there- and according to mom, I would sing to myself, making up the song as I go. I must have been cute. Then we moved. New things! New hobbies! New neighbors! Swing sets, horses, parks, 4-H, kittens, Sunday school. Then we moved again. New things! School, friends, horses, neighbors, sports, books, club houses, forts. Pretty soon the barbies were sold, and I started being super committed to a few hobbies: sports, singing, flute, horses. And Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Growing up I was taught not to be lazy. It actually was never an option. Video games were considered being lazy. Too much TV was being lazy. I guess that’s why I was considered an active child. I was always on the go go go- because just sitting around wasn’t an option.

I guess for the most part I’m glad that turned out to be an active child. I really did enjoy doing all that I did in high school and in my pre-teen years. BUT. There’s one thing. I’ve noticed that my mindset is/was twisted. Whenever I see someone with a hobby that’s not “active” I automatically think they are lazy. I guess it might not be that extreme, but something in my mind definitely triggers to look down on their hobby.

For instance, I know a guy that loves all forms of media entertainment: music, movies, video games. You name it. People like that definitely have this first-impression-negative affect on me. I guess the only reason (or excuse, rather) I have for thinking like this is because I was raised to stay away from making that stuff a hobby.

I think I’ve realized that it shouldn’t matter what people label as their hobby. Ok, I guess it should- but only within moral reason and all in moderation. Maybe your hobby is writing. Video games, tractors, reading, biking, concerts, sewing. I really shouldn’t discriminate like my mind wants to. I need to realize that it’s a good thing we aren’t all interested in the same thing. God gave each one of us different personalities and I shouldn’t be looking down on you if you really enjoy the Wii. Every. Single. Night.

"Christian" Music Ministry...

I just finished No Compromise by Melody Green, which is the biography of her husband, Keith Green. Even after reading the last page of that book, there’s so much spinning in my brain. For those of you who don’t know, Keith was a very talented musician who became very famous (in the Christian music scene) in his 20’s which was in the 1970’s.

This is straight from No Compromise:

Keith didn’t talk to anyone after his concerts because he was so upset by the hero-worship he saw in people’s eyes. Not wanting to encourage anyone in idolatry, or be stumbled himself, Keith simply slipped backstage. He was so concerned over this issue that a few years earlier he’d even written an article called “Music or Missions,” about churches full of “star-struck” Christians and what that did to the Lord and the ministers themselves:

Can’t you see that you are hurting these ministers? They try desperately to tell you that they don’t deserve to be praised, and because of this, you squeal with delight and praise them all the more.

How come no one idolizes or praises missionaries who give up everything and live in poverty, endangering their lives and their families lives with every danger that the American dream has almost completely eliminated? How come no one lifts up and exalts the ghetto and prison ministers and preachers? Because we are taught early on 1) that comfort is our goal and security and 2) that we should always seek for a lot of people to like us.

Quit trying to make gods out of music ministers, and quit trying to become like those gods. …

The only music ministers to whom the Lord will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” are the ones whose lives prove that their lyrics are saying and the ones to whom music is the least important part of their life. Glorifying the only worthy One should be most important!